St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-07-30

fixed in this wor'''s goods, he thought
that perhaps an extra $4,000 wouldn't
hurt his heirs and assigns.
He consented and was examined by
two physicians, years and years ago
One of them brought to him the report
and, with very grave countenance, told
him 1t was with great regret they were
compelled to decl 20 advise the COM
pany to accept his .,k, and adding that
he felt it to be his duty to inform him
that he would doubtless die within the
ensuing two years of Bright's disease.
The doctor was pretty we'll riled up by
this time; but, being philosophical and
rich, he laughed it off and continued to
live.
Not long ago Hyde, of the Equitable,
sent a gentleman to Green with the re-
quest that he would call and take out
policy in the Equitable. By this time
the humor of the situation struck him
and he accepted. He was again exam
formed by sapient medical authority that
he had but short time to live, where.
upon, towering to his full height, which
is considerable, by the way. he opened
on the examiner and with characteristic
there, to bet him two to one that he
would outlive him.
Now look at it.
Had the doctor been insured fifteen
years ago for the sum of $50, 900 it would
have cost him in the neighborhood Of
$4,000 a year, and the company would
have been so much in. To-day he looks
better than he did then, his eye is clear
lo11 !, III, q
fully prepared to wrestle with the veXa-
tious problems of his position Why"
said he to the examiner, Il am great
sugar eater. take sugar on my melons,
on my tomatoes, on my cakes, in my
coffee and in my whiskey. What you
see as an indication of Bright's disease
is sugar. am doctor myself, and
don't intend to forget it." Just about
once in ten years a new fashion in dis
ease springs up. Now it is this, and
now it is that. At the present time it is
Brights disease, and the doctor who
gets his S. for examination, no matter
which way he decides. t1atters himself he
is serving his employer by wisely deter
mining that a man who is in perfect
health, and WHO subsequently proves
that lie was SO BY living generation
after his predicted death, isn't fit sub
ject for insurance. 1t seems to me mod
ern doctors know too much for the good
of their employers.
Of the personalities, there is no need
to speak further, but | would like to say
a word about the good, bad and indiffer
ent service done by these companies, for
which the public have to pay, and by
which they are compelled to suffer. Our
city service is worse than brutal. No
man who stops to think will send mes
sage by wire in the city of New York
from any point to any point, if he is at
all particular about the time of its de-
livery. | have repeatedly sent messages
from the Herald office to Seventy ninth
street in New York which have required
hours in delivering, whereas a messenger
boy can be sent up by the surface road IN
forty-eight minutes. Two weeks ago |
left "a message in the Aston House, send
ing word to friends in Seventy-ninth
street that | should not be able to be
there at six o'clock dinner. Later on l
found my engagement would permit me
to go, and did so, reaching there about
$50, and, as no message was received
from me, dinner was waiting. AT 40 as
| left the house, messenger boy with
my telegram assembled the stOOp.
| have discovered that delays il city
deliveries are due to two causeS-trst,
and chief, the delay in delivering by the
office to which the dispatch is sent; and,
second, delay in starting it from down
town. 1t is the common experience Of
everybody doing business with the city
service, no matter by what line, that it is
wretched, unsatisfactory and exasperat-
ing.
But Dr. Green can't help it.
So long as careless women are employed
as telegraphers, and tritiing boys are used
as messengers-well,n never mind. WO-
men and boys must live, l suppose, so
We'll drop the discussion right here.
HOWARD.